Kolkata : Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said the first commercial hydrocarbon discovery by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the Bengal Basin, located at Ashoknagar in West Bengal, has taken a decisive step towards monetisation.
The development is being viewed as a significant move towards strengthening India’s energy security and increasing domestic production of hydrocarbons. Puri credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for driving India’s efforts to expand domestic energy capabilities.
According to the minister, ONGC established the flow potential of light, high-quality crude oil from the field in less than three months after the development well AS-1Z was spudded on May 30, 2026.
The maiden consignment of crude oil from the Ashoknagar field was flagged off on Saturday for transportation to Indian Oil Corporation’s Haldia Refinery. Ashoknagar MLA Dr Sumay Hira was present at the flag-off ceremony, along with ONGC’s Director (Exploration).
Puri said years of exploration and perseverance were now translating into production potential. He described the development as an important milestone for India’s hydrocarbon sector and said it would place West Bengal more firmly on the country’s hydrocarbon map.
The Ashoknagar project is expected to contribute to India’s efforts to boost domestic crude production, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the country’s broader energy-security framework.